Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are common, and they can be severe and life-threatening. Each year nearly 450,000 Americans face burn injuries that require medical treatment, while almost 3,500 suffer fire and burn deaths, according to data compiled by the American Burn Association. While residential fires are the leading cause of severe burn injuries, they may also be attributed to motor vehicle, boat and aviation crashes, electrocution or contact with hot liquids or hazardous substances. In most cases, the accidents leading to serious burn injuries could have been prevented. They are the result of careless conduct.

If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn injury due to another persons negligence or recklessness, you need a highly trained legal team on your side. You may be facing massive medical expenses, lost wages, and months of pain and suffering.

The Illinois burn injury lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have the experience and expertise to handle your case and secure the maximum monetary reward you deserve. We have obtained more than $620 million on behalf of our accident and injury clients, including 160 multi-million dollar verdicts or settlements.

For help with your severe burn injury claim, contact our Illinois burn injury attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call 877.788.2045 or use our online form.

Causes of Burn Injuries

Serious burn injuries can arise in a variety of situations and lead to scarring, disfigurement, emotional trauma and temporary or permanent disabilities. Some of the most common causes of serious burn injuries include:

  • Motor vehicle accidents: When a careless driver causes a car, truck or motorcycle crash, burns can result from fires and sparks from gasoline, fluids or exposed wires.
  • Boating and aviation accidents: Although they occur less frequently than motor vehicle accidents, boating and aviation accidents can produce the same types of burn injuries. Gasoline fires may be more catastrophic due to exposed fuel tanks in these machines.
  • Workplace accidents: Serious burns are among the leading types of workplace injuries. These burns, including chemical burns and scalding, can occur in restaurants or factories and at construction sites or warehouses from exposure to fires, explosions, wiring, hazardous chemicals, compressed gases and hot liquids.
  • Defective appliances: An electrical burn can result from faulty wiring in a household appliance. Burns may also result from defective grills, griddles, stoves and space heaters. The manufacturer may be liable for failing to provide proper safety features or adequate warning labels.
  • Propane gas tanks: Improperly filled or defective propane tanks that are used for cooking or heating can lead to fires and explosions.
  • Electrocution: An electrical shock from exposed, dangling wires can produce burns that harm skin, muscles and nerves.

A serious third-degree burn may require major surgery and amputation. If the burn injury occurs in a fire, there may be related, potentially fatal health problems from smoke inhalation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, on average, someone in the U.S. dies from a fire every 175 minutes, while someone is injured every 31 minutes.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn injury as the result of anothers negligent or reckless conduct, the Illinois burn injury lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help. We have offices in Chicago and Waukegan, and we represent clients throughout Illinois. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us today at 877.788.2045 or use our online form.